This study investigates the influence of the type of lipid phase (corn oil [CO], palm oil [PO], MCT oil [MO], lemon oil [LO]) on the physical characteristics and bioactive peptide (BP) encapsulation in food-grade water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) double emulsions. The stabilities of the double emulsions were analyzed for droplet size characteristics, viscosity, dynamic rheological properties, encapsulation efficiency (EE), and release rate of BP (at different temperatures: 4, 25, 37, and 60oC) for 28 days. The encapsulated BP acts as an active substance in the osmotic balance and destabilization of the double emulsion system. For the effect of the oil phase, double emulsions prepared with PO showed the best droplet stability without phase separation (D50 < 1 m) and high BP retention (EE > 60%). In the release rate at high temperatures (60oC), the BP released from double emulsions was in the order of MO > CO > LO > PO over time. In contrast, the BP release from double emulsions at low temperatures (< 37oC) had no difference depending on the oil type. Therefore, the information obtained from this work is useful for preparing stable, functional food or cosmetic products from double emulsions using a BP.

This study focuses on heat-induced gelation of pea (Pisum sativum L.) proteins to assess the potential of pea protein aggregates (PPA) as novel plant-based meat alternatives. The microstructural (SEM, CLSM), mechanical (TPA analysis), and rheological properties (G', G'') of heat-induced gels at pH 2 were systematically investigated as a function of a different pea protein concentration (7.5, 10, 12.5%) and a varying heating time (1, 3, 6, 16 h). The result showed that PPA formation at higher protein concentration and heating time contributed to a homogenous and compact heat-induced gel formation. Such gel network strengthened mechanical properties in terms of high gel hardness (40 g) and elastic texture (2.7 mm springiness). For the rheological studies, the storage modulus (G') showed an increase during both the heating and cooling phases and then stabilized during the cooled-holding phase. This suggested that the formation of durable and stable gel was induced due to the decreased mobility of protein aggregates at low temperatures. Therefore, the PPA is indicated as a potential additive for enhancing the food texture quality in the plant-based meat food industry.